Tips to Deal with Brest Boils while Breastfeeding

The cornified layer of the skin which is the most superficial one minimizes evaporation from the skin and prevents the entry of bacteria. However, sometimes the bacteria get an opportunity to invade the body through minor cuts and cause boils.

The lactating women are prone to developing breast infections. Breast infections rarely aggravate into breast boils. This can happen in cases where the symptoms of an infection are ignored till it worsens and an abscess or boil gets formed.

The risk factors for breast boil include the following:

  • Lactating women may acquire strep infections from hospitals which have low standards of hygiene.
  • The bacteria that are normally found in the mouth of an infant or on the nipples can enter the milk duct through minute cracks on the skin of the nipples.
  • Sometimes the infants tend to bite the nipple. This can also trigger a bacterial infection.
  • If mastitis or inflammation of the breast tissues is left untreated then it can develop into a breast boil.

The women who belonged to the earlier generations used to face the problem of breast boils during pregnancy quite often. If they suffered from a breast infection then they were stopped from breastfeeding their baby which caused plugged ducts. There was a myth that the babies would fall sick due to the infected milk.

However, this myth has been shattered as the doctors today are well-aware of the fact that the antibodies present in the milk can protect the baby from falling sick in case of an infection.

The following tips can help in dealing with the problem of breast boils while breastfeeding:

  • As a precautionary measure the breast should be self-examined and if any sign of abnormality is detected then a doctor should be consulted at the earliest.
  • Lack of proper nutrition and water intake can reduce the amount of milk which can add to one’s woes. Hence, one should take a proper diet and drink plenty of water.
  • A hot compress on the affected area before and after each feed can provide relief to the mother. For this a cloth soaked in hot water can be wrung out and applied over the boil.

Thus, we find that a little vigilance can go a long way if preventing the breast infections from developing into breast boils.

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